NORDIC CUP: Germany beats USA, 2-0, in final

• by Soccer America , Jul 24, 2006

ôOverall on the day, (Germany) deserved to win,ö said U.S. coach Jillian Ellis. ôWe had good possession and pressured them a lot in the second half, but we couldnÆt finish. We were pushing for a tying goal, and it was unlucky to give up that last one.ö

Both Germany goals came off U.S. miscues. The first came in the 32nd minute when defender Rachel Buehler slipped while trying to clear a ball from her six-yard box and Lydia Neumann took advantage to finish. The second came in the 86th minute as Lauren Wilmoth miss-cleared a ball to Simone Laudeher, and she put the game away.

U.S. forward Danesha Adams, who led the team in scoring during the tournament with five goals, was carted off the field at the end of the match after taking a hard knock.

In the other placement matches, Norway beat England, 3-2, to take third place, Sweden beat Iceland, 1-0, to take fifth Finland beat Denmark, 1-0, to take seventh.

July 22 in Stavenger

Germany 2 USA 0. Goals: Neumann 32, Laudeher 86.

USA -- Henderson, Wilmoth, Buehler, Fletcher, Taylor, Huffman (Gray, 46), Keselica, Woznuk, Adams (Griffin, 89), Trotter (Davis, 77), Weimer (Cinalli, 65).

Germany -- Holl, Vanbonn (Schroder, 68), Zeitz, Krahn, Laudeher (Oster, 89), Bartusiak, Behringer, Bachor (Schmidt, 89), Haye, Gosling, Neumann (Thompson, 80).

Referee: Wendy Thoms (England)

Att.: 300.